Mental Health Champions: “It is okay to not be okay”, with Samantha Foster

In today’s society, it is too easy for people to hide their problems behind happy-looking social media posts if no one is willing to really ask how they are doing.

As a part of my series about “Mental Health Champions” helping to normalize the focus on mental wellness, I had the pleasure to interview Samantha Foster, co-founder and President of the nonprofit organization, Rethink Mental Health Incorporated. Rethink Mental Health Incorporated was founded to improve the way our society treats and views people suffering from mental health issues, especially children and young adults. As a result of its initiatives, more people can speak openly about what they are experiencing and seek professional help without fear of stigmatization, discrimination or harassment.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us the “backstory” about what brought you to this specific career path?

All my life I have dealt with mental illness and mental health issues, both personally and among my friends and family members. I’ve seen countless people suffer in silence due to fear of judgment and stigmatization if they were to open up as being “not ok.” The injustice and…